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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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The Judy Garland Christmas Special (1963)

Rating: 2 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Judy's Holiday

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy The Judy Garland Christmas Special on DVD.

Viewers are invited to spend an evening at home at Christmastime with Judy Garland and her family and friends. Judy opens with a bang, with her signature "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and from there, it all gets a bit trying. (It ranges from cute to obnoxious.) Garland was 41 at the time, and looks the worse for wear. Her younger kids struggle through a couple of tunes, but teenage Liza Minnelli is very cute and already in command of her voice. Mel Tormé turns up to sing the classic song he co-wrote, "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)." The black-and-white picture is better than I expected, and the sound is fine. (Infinity Entertainment released the DVD.) Recommended to fans only. Better to rent Judy's masterpiece, Meet Me in St. Louis (1944).

With: Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Jack Jones, Lorna Luft, Joey Luft, Mel Tormé, Tracy Everitt
Written by: Frank Peppiatt, John Aylesworth, Johnny Bradford
Directed by: Dean Whitmore
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 52 minutes
Date: October 19, 2009